Cessna 150M accident near Detroit, Michigan, November 19, 1989
On November 19, 1989 at about 5:42 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N66714, was substantially damaged in an accident near Detroit, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 1989 · about 5:42 pm local time
- Place
- Detroit, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N66714 · no longer on the register · serial 15076228
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A SHORT LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. HE REPORTED, THE AIRCRAFT HAD ABOUT 6.5 GALLONS OF FUEL WHEN HE DEPARTED THE AIRPORT. ONLY 2 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS FOUND ON BOARD THE ACFT. THE PUBLISHED UNUSABLE FUEL FOR THE AIRCRAFT 1.75 GALLONS PER WING TANK, OR 3.5 GALLONS TOTAL. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF POST-IMPACT FUEL LEAKAGE/SPILLAGE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 245 hours in all; 177 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 140 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,150 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DET Detroit MI at 5:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.